CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)—As COVID-19 continues to threaten Filipinos, PhilHealth Regional Vice President Delio A. Aseron II introduced two new benefit packages.

Under PhilHealth Circular No. 2021-0007, Filipinos can now get a COVID-19 vaccine injury compensation package. This circular aims to compensate vaccine recipients provided under the COVID-19 Vaccination Program, in case of hospital confinement, permanent disability, or death due to serious adverse effects.

“This compensation package is available to all of our countrymen who had their COVID-19 jab through the COVID-19 vaccination program. We have a P100,000 indemnification package in case of [serious] adverse effects, which includes individuals who may suffer permanent disability due to [severe] adverse effects. It will remain in force from March 3, 2021 to March 2, 2026, or until the completion of the COVID-19 vaccination program,” said Aseron.

Meanwhile, another compensation package, he said, has also been released by the agency for those who had been initially assessed and managed as COVID-19 but eventually had negative RT-PCR results.

He said this benefit package shall be applied to all the Filipinos who were admitted to accredited hospitals starting November 26, 2020, and being assessed and/or managed as a COVID-19 case. An intermediate package for mild pneumonia costs P18,000 while a severe or critical pneumonia benefit package costs P38,000.

Despite the pandemic, the PhilHealth executive assures the public that their services would continue and that the agency’s “Aksyon Agad” mantra will always be observed to give a much better service to their clients. (JAKA/PIA-10)